Tuesday’s cattle sale in Enniscorthy Mart, Co Wexford, was described as relatively positive.

Manager Tommy Harrington said demand for good-quality continental stores and short-keep beef cattle remains strong, but that the cow trade is a little easier, while demand for light and plainer-quality dairy crossbreds is being tempered by low grass growth rates.

This batch of 10 Limousin cross bullocks weighing 392kg and born from March to May 2019 sold for €950 (€2.42/kg).

Nice R+ and U grading continental bullocks and heifers born in 2019 and weighing 350kg to 440kg sold from €2.20/kg to €2.45/kg on average, with select lots exceeding this price range.

Lesser-quality types sold back to €2/kg, with Angus and Hereford lots selling from €1.80/kg to €1.95/kg on average, while 2019-born Friesian bullocks sold from €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg.

The trade for short-keep stores and beef cattle is solid. Lots weighing 550kg upwards sold from €2.00/kg to €2.15/kg for quality continental cattle, with an entry of top-quality heifers selling between €2.20/kg and €2.30/kg.

This Limousin cross heifer born April 2018 and weighing 490kg sold for €1,040 (€2.12/kg).

Angus cattle with a nice cover of flesh averaged around the €1.85/kg to €1.90/kg mark.

Tommy says there has been solid demand for good-quality forward Friesian bullocks in recent weeks, with prices for 2018-born bullocks weighing upwards of 530kg to 550kg from €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg.

Three Friesian bullocks averaging 573kg and born October 2018 sold for €940 (€1.64/kg).

The trade for cows has eased by €40 to €60 per head in the last two weeks.

Fleshed Friesian cows sold on average from €1.05/kg for average-quality lots to over €1.20/kg for better-quality types. The sale took place online through the Marteye sales platform and Tommy says it will be good to have buyers back at the ringside for next week’s sale.

This batch of Friesian bullocks born in March and April 2019 and averaging 340kg sold for €440 (€1.29/kg).

These Limousin cross bullocks born from January to March and weighing 388kg on average sold for €750 (€1.93/kg).

These two Belgian Blue cross bullocks born October and November and weighing 565kg sold for €1,130 (€2/kg).

This Angus cross heifer born May 2018 and weighing 580kg sold for €1,100 (€1.90/kg).

These two Angus cross bullocks averaging 535kg and born October 2018 sold for €1,010 (€1.91/kg).

This Speckle Park cross bullock weighing 420kg and born May 2018 sold for €930 (€2.21/kg).

These two March and April-2019 born Limousin cross bullocks weighing 405kg sold for €970 (€2.40/kg).

This Limousin bullock born January 2019 and weighing 440kg sold for €1,060 (€2.41/kg).

This Belgian Blue cross bullock born March 2019 and weighing 360kg sold for €730 (€2.03/kg).

This Simmental cross bullock born May 2019 and weighing 430kg sold for €930 (€2.16/kg).

This February-2019 born Hereford bullock weighing 400kg sold for €720 (€1.71/kg).

This February-2019 born Limousin cross bullock weighing 400kg sold for €970 (€2.43/kg).

These Aberdeen Angus cross bullocks born February-2019 and weighing 390kg sold for €660 (€1.69/kg).

These two limousin bullocks born January 2019 and weighing 360kg sold for €720 (€2/kg).